Cultural Access Pass Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Institute for Canadian Citizenship

Meet Canoo member Ife Thomas!

Ife and her husband chose to move to Canada because for them, it meant a chance for more opportunities. What she loves most about Canada is the freedom and the diversity, which she specifies includes not only the people and cultures but also the geography of the country.

Since Ife and her family received their citizenship, they have used Canoo as a tool to help them discover what’s around them, and even have a new favourite place – Banff! After exploring the town, enjoying a picnic at Lake Minnewanka, and cooling down by the lake while taking in the beauty of the mountains, Ife was pleased to see how much her sons enjoyed their time together. Her eldest son especially, who declares that Banff is his favorite place to go and asks everyday, “Are we going to Banff today?”

Ife says that Canoo has helped her and her family explore all things Canadian, and she really appreciates the suggestions about the places close by and far to visit, especially for parks for the kids. “Canoo has been like a map to tell me all the places that I need to visit without a whole lot of research.”

For Ife, raising her family in Canada, inclusion is very important. It means “feeling accepted, and accepting everyone no matter their race, religion, gender, or background.” Ife explains that “you feel a sense of pride about how so many different people live here and belong here and those differences unify the country and make Canada such a great place to live.”

Ife strives to be an active citizen, by not only voting in local and national elections, but also by “learning and experiencing as much Canadian culture as possible whether by travelling around the country or visiting all the local parks, museums and historical sites.” Ife hopes to continue using Canoo to explore and find more places that her and her family can enjoy together.

Canoo gives new Canadian citizens and their families access to more than 1400 arts and culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their families feel like they belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

Meet Canoo member Harish Kashyap!

Harish chose to come to Canada because “Canada is one of the most outstanding countries in the world where dreams come true.” He says that he could see himself and his family growing together, and living and sharing happy moments for the rest of their lives here in Canada.

“The most important thing I love about Canada is the diversity of people, where I can exchange cultural interests, grow in my career, and also provide a healthy and safe life to my family.”

Harish typically visits venues with his family; he says that sharing these trips means sharing happiness and making their family bond stronger. His favourite places that he has visited with Canoo are Banff National Park and Jasper National Park over the summer. “I went with my family and friends and their family,” Harish says, “ We experienced the breathtaking moments of Banff National Park, and we were so close to the wildlife. Being so close to the wildlife and sharing the same road while driving was the best part. It’s great to see wildlife in their real habitat! Canoo is a great app which provides hands-on information to visit the places no matter whichever part of Canada you are in. ”

Harish believes that cultural venues, including natural spaces like national parks, are important parts of building inclusion and belonging in Canada. “These are places where we learn about other people and culture closely,” he says. “Making cultural places available to everyone brings respect to other cultures while learning something new everyday.

“I can feel proud that I am representing one of the most respectful countries in the world. Inclusion to me means the feeling of being an important part of cultural diversity.”

*Some quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

Canoo gives new Canadian families access to 1400+ arts, culture spaces and parks across Canada. While Canoo is free to use, it’s not free to operate. As a charity, we rely on donations to help keep Canoo available and free for new Canadian citizens. With your generous support, we can help thousands of new Canadians and their family belong. Give the gift of Canoo! Become a monthly donor today.

Meet Canoo member Gauri Suri! She moved to Canada from India nearly 10 years ago and obtained her Canadain citizenship (virtually) in May of this year.

“What I love most about Canada is the kindness of the people,” says Gauri. “Canada is truly a land of opportunities and a diverse nation where I feel that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I moved to Canada 10 years ago and I feel like I have always been able to achieve all my goals with the hard work and no doubt the kindness that has been bestowed to me from random people whom I call now friends and family.”

Gauri has already used her Canoo app to visit museums in both Vancouver and Calgary, as well as national parks such as Banff and Lake Louise.

“I love the Canoo app!” says Gauri, “What a great idea of providing all new citizens with a great opportunity to know more about the country, its culture and traditions.

“I have had amazing experiences with Canoo. During the summer of 2020, there was not much I could do due to the pandemic. However, being so close to the rocky mountains and being a hiking person, I was able to experience the most beautiful aquamarine lakes, waterfalls and rocky mountains of Banff and Lake Louise. All these places kept me sane and, of course, nature amazes me everytime with its magical moments — I was able to capture the views that are beyond words. Along with that I was able to motivate some of my friends to experience the sunrise hikes that became every weekend’s memories for all of us!”

Gauri believes that nature and culture are important factors to inclusion. “Culture plays an important role as it teaches all of us to learn the good things from diverse ethnicities. Being a land of immigrants, we all are free to celebrate with each other and call this country a diverse nation.”

Meet Canoo member Anique Ellis. Anique Ellis first came to Canada in October of 2007 as an exchange student at Northern Lights College in Fort St. John’s, BC, as part of a cultural exchange program for student-teachers from Jamaica. “That was where I fell in love with Canada,” says Anique Ellis. “The culture [and the people made my decision to migrate to Canada an easy one. When I returned to Jamaica and completed teacher’s college, I wasted no time in starting the process.”

Anique Ellis is excited and proud to be a Canadian citizen. “ I take responsibility for my role as a citizen and ensure that I contribute value to society in whatever capacity I’m able to.”

“Canada is an amazing place to live,” she says.“It isn’t just physically attractive but inclusive, and I appreciate how everyone is treated equally and how all cultures are celebrated and appreciated. To be included is Canadian; to be Canadian is to be included.”

Anique Ellis has visited many provinces and can’t choose a favourite place. “Canada is absolutely breathtaking,” she says, “I have been to Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, and I’m yet to decide on which is my favourite place! Each province is unique, culturally rich, and has a great deal of things and places to offer, experience, explore and enjoy.”

Typically, Anique Ellis visits venues with her son, and her favourite venue she has visited is the Royal Alberta Museum. “I had an amazing experience at the Royal Alberta Museum,” she says, “I started going in December of 2019 when I took my son. I enjoyed the little areas set up for children to learn and explore, and the different areas to play in the museum. The staff were very kind and welcoming.

“Cultural places such as the Royal Alberta Museum give each Canadian the opportunity to experience each other’s culture, which helps to remove barriers and prejudices, as well as allow for dialogue and acceptance of our differences. That is what makes us unique as Canadians.

“Thanks to Canoo I have gained a deeper appreciation for Canada’s rich history and heritage. Canoo connects history, culture, and entertainment; it has been an amazing experience.”

Meet Canoo member Angelina Paras.

Angelina chose to move to Canada because “it’s a country that’s both historically relevant yet still nascent in terms of economic and social potential. I feel like there is much for me and my children to learn from and contribute to this country that I chose.”

“What I love most about Canada is its rich ethnic diversity, coupled with an amazing citizenry that has embraced people from all corners of the world. It’s what enticed me to live and raise my children here. In fact, Canada adopts multiculturalism as a national policy. I have felt this from the get go, as minorities’ representation in the workforce and in education is encouraged, added to a plethora of support services for newcomers like me.”

“My favourite place in Canada is my new home and community, because it is symbolic of our immigration journey. But if I had the chance to revisit a place, it would be postcard-pretty Banff in Alberta, because our trip to this picturesque town for our landmark wedding anniversary will always be memorable.”

“I typically visit Canoo venues with my husband and my children, and my mother-in-law who lives in Toronto but stays with us in Winnipeg for a few months each year. The best place I’ve visited using Canoo was the Canadian Human Rights Museum (CMHR). I have visited the CMHR several times in the past, but they always have something new to offer. In July of 2019, I used my Canoo app to see the Mandela exhibit with my friend, who was visiting from Minnesota. That state has its own share of amazing museums, but I was proud to show her around the world’s first museum dedicated to human rights, and we were both fortunate to view the Mandela exhibit which was ongoing at the time. She is an educator, while I work for the Manitoba Legislature, which means we not only have to be curious for personal curiosity’s sake but we need to be updated on all matters political! The effort that goes into curating and researching for these exhibits is remarkable, and as a Winnipeger, I am fortunate to have easy access to this excellent edifice.

“Although I work for both the city and provincial governments, have been summoned for jury duty, volunteered at countless events and voted twice since we arrived, active citizenship can be many other things. It can be as simple as welcoming new citizens to the community or watching a game at your kids’ school. It can be sharing a personal traditional recipe or lending a hand to a neighbour in need. When you keep a mindset of trying to give more than what you take from the society you live in, that, to me, is what active citizenship is all about.

“Inclusion to me doesn’t just mean “tolerance,” which I feel gives it a sense of “putting up with”. Inclusion is a deliberate welcoming of others’ culture — stepping back and having an open mind;to give recognition and genuinely have appreciation for the added value that others can give.

“Cultural places serve as living dioramas, giving us a glimpse of other people’s ways of life. Awareness opens the path to inclusion because people would come to realize that there is a greater society in which they live, and that the languages, abodes, food, beliefs, music, attires, traditions and customs in that greater society are legion. If anything, cultural places are kaleidoscopes of this remarkably diverse world we live in.

“Canoo has opened the doors of not-to-be-missed places to newcomers like me. Through Canoo and others’ generosity, our family has been able to take an introductory peek into museums and national parks, which we would definitely visit again in the future.”

*Some quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

Meet Canoo member Amjad Baig. Amjad moved to Canada because he believes it is a country where “there is unlimited opportunity and potential where your dreams can become reality.”

“Canada is a truly multicultural country with a rich ethnic diversity,” he says, “You feel welcomed and belonging here. The gorgeous scenery views of the untouched and natural environment are breathtaking and next to none I have seen so far.”

Amjad lives in Toronto, but his favourite place in Canada is on the West Coast. “Even though I stay in Toronto, two hours north of Vancouver by road lies our favorite place – Whistler,” he says, “The natural beauty, unique mountain lifestyle and stunning scenery is the best escape like nowhere else. Finding yourself in the mountains, breathing in the wild air you just get swept up by the unique energy. There are always some adventures that can inspire and challenge you anytime of the year in Whistler.”

During his time as a Canoo member in 2019, Amjad visited Casa Loma with his family, one of his favourite cultural venues in Toronto. “We went to Casa Loma on the 25th of August, 2019. It was our family day out,” he says, “We saw some of the most amazing things like the Great Hall, The Library, The Estate Gardens, The Round Room, Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite, Lady Pellatt’s Suite, The Windsor Room, The Pellatt Board Room, Queen’s Own Rifle Museum, the stables and finally the Automotive Museum. The experience was as if you traveled back in time, at times we would stand and just imagine what life would have been during those times, such an amazing history. Our favorite was a secret storage area beside the fireplace.”

Amjad believes that cultural venues like Casa Loma can help build more inclusive societies: “Coming from various cultural places and background help to understand others better, learn through connections making it a better resilient, stronger and socially inclusive community.”

“Canoo is so very thoughtful and such a beautiful gesture to give every new citizen to experience and learn a little more about the land, food, culture, nature and connect with people,” says Amjad, “ Canoo celebrates the experience of being truly Canadian, not just to celebrate a new citizen’s journey from landing to becoming a citizen but recognizing & rewarding the hustle and the contribution during that period. Visiting the parks and Casa Loma was simply beautiful. Thank you Canoo for the memorable experience!”

Meet Canoo member Janega Boltiador-Gallant. She immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, and currently, she resides on the East Coast in Prince Edward Island, her favourite place in Canada, with her husband. Janega chose to move to Canada because it is her “dream country” and to “have a better life.”

“What I love most about Canada is that it is a very productive country,” says Janega, “And it’s the place where I met the love of my life! I am looking forward to many more years here spending our lives together with good health and more happiness.”

Janega typically visits Canoo venues with her husband. The places she’s enjoyed visiting most using the Canoo app are the Anne of Green Gables Museum at the Green Gables Heritage Place and Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site, PEI.

“I went a few times to the Anne of Green Gables heritage site with my family,” says Janega. “I love learning about how the story was made. We went walking on the trail — it was a pretty good experience. We saw all the stuff that makes up the story at the Green Gables House, and we got to get dressed up in Anne’s clothes. We even took some pictures. It was very cool.”

Janega agrees that cultural spaces, such as heritage sites and parks, are important experiences for building a sense of inclusion and belonging for new citizens in Canada. “Cultural places will let you share your culture from where you’re from,” says Janega, “And to be included in social gatherings with a bunch of people from different countries allows you to learn about, and experience, their cultures. This kind of inclusion means I can be part of the success of this country.”

Janega highly recommends that all new Canadian citizens download and use the Canoo app! “It will give you more information about lots of wonders in this world and the beautiful places that you can visit,” she says. “It is very helpful!”

Meet Canoo member Violeta. She chose to move to Canada for the “natural beauty, mountains and lakes, as well as because of the strong economy and plenty of business opportunities.”

What Violeta loves most about Canada is the “people, the diversity, friendliness, and last but not least – poutine!” Her favourite place in Canada is Banff National Park in Alberta.

The best place that Violeta has visited using her Canoo app has been the Montreal Science Center, which she visited with her family. “Everyone in the family is interested in doing simple experiments and hands-on activities, and the center offers plenty of those,” she says. “The exhibitions we saw were amazing and entertaining both for kids and adults. Before we knew it, we spent almost three hours there and when we left we felt like there is so much more to see. Awesome place!”

For Violeta, active citizenship is “contributing to society by being kind and respectful, taking care of the environment, helping others and making a positive difference whenever presented with the opportunity.” She believes that cultural spaces help us build more diverse and inclusive societies: “Cultural places give us another perspective,” she says, “They help us see the world through the eyes of others; it is a way for us to remember the past and all the lessons it holds.”

“I have had a very positive experience using Canoo,” says Violeta, “Having the chance to visit all these places (some of which I probably wouldn’t have visited without the Canoo pass) is definitely expanding my horizons.”

Canoo member Joy Abasta became a Canadian citizen in February 2020. She says she chose Canada because of the country’s diversity, move towards inclusion, and the high respect for others’ rights and freedoms.

As a new citizen, Joy is actively and continuously learning about the Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and she knows it is both a privilege and a responsibility to be learning and living in the unceded Coast Salish Territories. She also believes that while immigrants and new citizens have much to contribute to Canadian society, it is also important to acknowledge that we all have to work together towards decolonization and reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples to be a truly inclusive and progressive country. As a public health leader, she is an advocate and an ally in achieving culturally competent and gender-sensitive communities in British Columbia, and hopefully, in all of Canada.

Joy’s favourite place in Canada is Whitehorse, Yukon. “A week after my oath of citizenship in February 2020, my partner, Wesley, and I flew to Whitehorse, Yukon,” she explained, “There, we chased the Aurora Borealis, we met a Canadian ranger, and experienced dogsledding and snowmobiling. I learned more about trapping and got to feel and try on clothings made of real arctic fox, mink, and wolf pelts. The most unforgettable of them all was when we visited the Beringia Interpretive Centre where we learned more about Indigenous Peoples, human migration theory through the Bering ice bridge, and admired the remains of woolly mammoth, giant sloths, and saber-toothed cats.”

When travel restrictions due to the pandemic are over, Joy plans to visit other provinces and use her Canoo membership in museums and art galleries. She hopes to see the beauty and hidden gems of Winnipeg, Toronto, and the Maritimes.

Joy believes that cultural places and public art installations play a major role towards awareness and inclusivity: “These cultural places serve as a medium where we learn the country’s history, its traditions, cultures, and even the dark past. Social inclusion will only be achieved if we learn from history and that we truly welcome everyone regardless of their skin colour, race, gender, and social class.”

Canoo member Mariam Ghaffar immigrated from Pakistan to Canada about five years ago. She chose to settle in Calgary, AB, in part due to the simple fact she had family in the city. She received her Canadian citizenship in June of 2019. Mariam is excited to be an active citizen, and for her, active citizenship means “fulfilling my duties and knowing my rights” as a Canadian.

What Mariam loves most about Canada (and Calgary in particular) is the friendly people, the vast diversity and multiculturalism, and the clean environment and natural areas. She regularly uses the Canoo app to gain free, day-use admission to national and provincial parks in Alberta for herself and her three children. Of the many she’s visited, her favourites are Jasper National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park. “It’s so beautiful!” explained Mariam about Waterton Larks, “The lakes, the rocks, everything is magical!”

Although all national and provincial parks are temporarily closed for now, Mariam is excited to get back outside when the weather is warmer and the restrictions are lifted. She hopes to get in a few more visits with her Canoo app (which she calls “excellent!”) before her membership expires.